Nola Granola makes healthy, natural snacks

Apr. 25, 2013

Nola Granola's artisan snack packs are available in several area stores. / Liz Craig

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The Tennessean

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Made in Tennessee is a weekly spotlight featuring products produced in our state. Reach Jen Todd at 615-313-2760 or jtodd1@tennessean.com. For more information on Tennessee products, visit www.picktnproducts.org.

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A crunchy, healthy, natural snack is within reach. Nashville-based Nola Granola serves flavorful, homemade granola in small and large portion sizes.

Liz created the recipe, because she likes granola and she couldn’t find one she liked to eat as a snack. She spent a year, year and a half just kind of playing with granola recipes from her mom. Not last Christmas but the Christmas before, she gave it as presents. It was really good — and I’m not really a granola eater. She kept making it for people in her office. One day she said, “I cannot afford to keep making granola for people in the office.” And I said, “If they want it so bad, why don’t you charge them for it?”

What ingredients do you use?

We use whole oats, we don’t add any flour. We have brown sugar as a sweetener, honey and we make caramel.

The original flavor is cranberry coconut, and we have salty caramel, apricot almond and seasonal flavors.

Where are your products available?

Hendersonville Produce is our biggest one. The 1-ounce snack packs are at Just Love Coffee Roasters, Hatcher Family Dairy Store, and we have different sizes in the Bee Hive, Perl Catering and Green Door Gourmet.

Where are they manufactured?

We make it in a commercial kitchen in Franklin — Providence Farms.

How long have you been making these products?

We started in October of last year.

What’s next for your company?

We actually collaborated at the end of the year with other local artisan producers and put together gift baskets. We aim to sell the baskets again this year. We’re working on a couple of new flavors: chocolate almond and spicy pecan.

Is this a full-time or part-time job?

I would say I spend a lot more time than part-time, but at least I can do it at home.